A celebration of cultures

MANILA, Philippines - Dayaw, the biggest gathering of indigenous Filipino cultures organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), goes to Tacloban, Leyte next month.

Spearheaded by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts, Dayaw is held annually in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples’ Month observed every October. The local government of Leyte and the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc. will be the partners of NCCA for this year’s festival.

Dayaw 2013 will showcase the different indigenous groups of the country, and an enriching and interesting array of activities, including institutionalized film showing, fashion show of authentic indigenous wear and a food festival.

Other activities are performances, rituals, forums, traditional cuisine demos, traditional games, arts and crafts exhibit and cultural tours, among others.

The festival’s four academic venues – University of the Philippines-Visayas, Leyte Normal University, Leyte National High School and Eastern Visayas State University – will hold different activities simultaneously.

Dayaw also goes international this year as 64 representatives from indigenous groups from 32 countries will be invited to view the Philippines’ communities, mingle with the country’s indigenous peoples and share their own cultures with Filipinos. These delegates will come from the Asian Cooperation Dialogue.

Dayaw 2013 aims to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures, discuss the issues that the indigenous peoples face today and facilitate interaction with indigenous peoples from other nations. It also aims to mine traditional knowledge as well as draw inspiration and insight from indigenous ways of life to find solutions for modern problems.

Numerous indigenous peoples from all over the country are expected to participate, including the Gaddang, Isinay, Tinggian, Itneg, Ibanag, Yogad, Itawit, Malaweg, Ivatan, Bugkalot, Isnag, Kalinga, Ifugao, Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Balangao, Bontok, Applai, Ayta, Mangyan, Palawani, Molbog, Jama Mapun, Tagbanua, Pala’wan, Batak, Cuyunon, Agta, Ati, Panay Bukidnon, Waray, Abaknon, Yakan, Subanen,  Higaonon, Bagobo, Mandaya, Mansaka, B’laan, Sangir, Ata Manobo, T’boli, Teduray, Arumanen, Mamanwa, Maranao, Magindanao, Iranun and Tausug.

The NCCA has been annually celebrating the National Indigenous Peoples’ Month in different parts of the country. The festival is in consonance with Presidential Proclamation 1906, declaring October as National Indigenous Peoples’ Month. In 2007, Kalimudan: Panaghi-usa sa Mindanao (Mindanao Indigenous Peoples’ Gathering) was held in Davao City in November, featuring Mindanao’s ethnic groups. The following year, Timpuyog: Indigenous Peoples’ Month Celebration in Luzon was held in Santiago City, Isabela, focusing on Luzon ethnic groups and featuring performances, arts and crafts workshops, cultural awareness lectures, forums, tours, and a theme-park exhibition featuring the traditional houses, cultural resources, practices/rituals, chants, music, songs and dances, stories, traditional arts and crafts, indigenous games.

In 2009, the Indigenous Peoples’ Festival was held in the Visayas, particularly in Roxas City, Capiz, called Dungog, with similar activities and aims. Dayaw 2010 was held in Metro Manila, and in 2011, it was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Last year, Dayaw visited the province of Bulacan.

For details, contact NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office at 527-5529 or 0928-5081057. E-mail [email protected]  or visit www.ncca.gov.ph.